Andean Weavers’ trek + Machu Picchu

Leaving your hotel, we will head north through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Ollantaytambo, where you can visit the village and ruins in the company of our guide.

We will then continue by private vehicle for about one hour to the village of Patacancha (3,825 meters / 12,545 feet), a charming community of small houses built from mud brick and thatch. This is where our trek begins. We will walk through typical inter-Andean valley scenery for approximately four hours, arriving at our campsite on the Yanaqaqa plain (3,915 meters / 12,841 feet), where we will camp.

Traveling distance:

Cusco – Ollantaytambo 67 kilometers / 41 miles (paved road, 2 hours)

Ollantaytambo – Patacancha 28 kilometers / 17 miles (dirt road, 30 minutes)

Trekking distance:

5 kilometers / 3.12 miles (2-3 hours)

Altitudes:

• Ollantaytambo 2,845 meters / 9,333 feet.
• Patacancha 3,825 meters / 12,549 feet.
• Yanaqaqa 3,915 meters / 12,841 feet

Meals: Lunch, dinner

Leaving our campsite in the early morning, we will make a brief ascent to the pass at 4,392 meters (14,405 feet), before descending into the Qelcanca Valley, home to a rural community of llama and alpaca herders.

These welcoming villagers will demonstrate their ancestral weaving techniques, and depending on the time of year, visitors are welcome to participate in farming activities. The village school teaches its children in their native Quechua, and the residents are friendly and welcoming. On the way to the community, we will pass through smallholdings where local people produce diverse types of Andean crops, including several varieties of potatoes.

We will camp in the mountains beyond the village at 3,916 meters (12,844 feet), with a fine view of imposing Mount Terijuay 5,800 meters (19,025 feet).

Trekking distance:

5.38 kilometers / 3.36 miles (2-3 hours)

Altitudes:

• Pass 4,392 meters / 14,409 feet.
• Qelcanca 3,771 meters / 12,369 feet
• Huyunapampa camp 3,916 meters / 12,848

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

During the morning we will climb to beautiful Lake Yuraccocha, formed by the melt waters of Mount Terijuay. From the lake, we will head downhill, with plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful surrounding countryside, until we reach Lake Yanacocha, near the village of Cochayoc, where the local community is famous for its textile tradition, and where we will make our camp.

Trekking distance:

Huyunapampa – Cochayoc 9.84 kilometers / 6.15 miles (5 – 6 hours)

Altitudes:

• Lake Yuraccocha 4,130 meters / 13,549 feet.
• Lake Yanacocha 4,210 meters / 13,812 feet.
• Cochayoc 3,853 meters / 12641 feet.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

In the morning we will visit Cachin, whose inhabitants are famous for their weavings. Local people’s houses are built in the traditional Inca style. Around midday we will descend towards the Lares Valley, with its warm, agreeable climate, as far as the village of Lares. Located at an altitude of 3,207 meters (10,521 feet), this is a typical colonial village with a church, a main plaza, and narrow streets. The local thermal baths are famous throughout the Cusco region.

Leaving Lares, we will travel by road to the village of Ollantaytambo. The highest point of this road stands at 4,265 meters (13,990 feet), from where we will be able to see the mountains of Sawasiray (5,818 meters / 19,087 feet) and Pitusiray (4,991 meters / 16,374 feet), before descending into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In the late afternoon, we continue by train to Machu Picchu.

The last night: We spend in Aguas Calientes town, in a hotel tourist class.

Trekking distance:

Cochayoc – Cachin 8.2 kilometers / 5.12 miles (3 – 4 hours)

Traveling distance:

Lares – Ollantaytambo: 121 kilometers / 75 miles (2 hours)

Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes (train): 55 kilometers / 34 miles (1 hour 30 minutes)

Altitudes:

• Cachin (3,726 meters / 12,221 feet).
• Lares 3,207 meters / 10,521 feet.
• Urubamba 2,877 meters / 9438 feet.
• Ollantaytambo 2,845 meters / 9333 feet.
• Aguas Calientes 2,020 meters / 6627 feet.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Known throughout the world as the “Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu remains intact because it was never discovered by the invading Spanish. Built sometime during the 15^th century, Machu Picchu is the greatest surviving achievement of the architects of the Inca state.

The site covers an area of 13 square kilometers and would have originally served as an administrative and religious center. Our guide will carefully explain the history of this unique place and escort you around its terraces, streets, temples, palaces, and watercourses.

You will return to Cusco by train in the afternoon.

Optional.

after the tour you will have the option of climbing Huayna Picchu Mountain (2-3 hours, subject to availability, please make your booking as soon as possible).

Traveling time:

Machu Picchu – Poroy Train station (train): 99 kilometers / 61.5 miles (3.30 minutes)

Poroy Train station – Cusco (private vehicle): 13 kilometers / 8 miles (30 minutes)

Altitude:

• Machu Picchu 2,460 meters / 8070 feet.
• Huayna Picchu 2,720 meters / 8923 feet.
• Aguas Calientes 2,020 meters / 6627 feet.
• Cusco 3,396 meters / 11,141 feet

Yes.

All foodstuffs are purchased immediately before departure to guarantee freshness, and they are correctly packaged and handled by our trained staff to ensure food safety. We use cloth bags when making our purchases, rather than plastic. The produce is fresh and bought directly from local farmers. Also, we pack the produce in cloth bags and hermetic multiuse containers, avoiding the use of plastic in order to make our operations as green as possible.

For trekking and hiking routes other than the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you should make your booking at least five days in advance, so we can make the necessary preparations, although we recommend that you make your booking up to 90 days in advance. Full refunds (minus administration costs) can be offered 45 days before your scheduled departure date. After 45 days, only partial refunds will be given.

Yes, for trekking and hiking routes other than the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you can add other travelers to your group before departure. Write to us for more information on the treks, hikes and tours we have available.

The maximum group size is 16 persons. For more than 16 persons, a second group must be organized. A single guide travels with 8 participants. For larger groups, an assistant guide will also accompany the participants.

If you are traveling alone and are willing to share a tent, with a member of the same sex or partner, family member or friend, then there is no additional cost. If, however, you would like your own private tent an additional supplement will be payable. Please contact us in advance, because on some trekking and hiking routes this option may depend on the availability of spaces at campsites designated by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture.

Use of plastic bottles on the network of Inca Trails to Machu Picchu is not permitted. Other treks and hikes do not have this restriction, but we always recommend and encourage our travelers to use reusable canteens or second use plastic water bottles. Our cook will provide you with boiled water to refill your bottle at all the campsites.

All foodstuffs are purchased immediately before departure to guarantee freshness, and they are correctly packaged and handled by our trained staff to ensure food safety. We use cloth bags when making our purchases, rather than plastic. The produce is fresh and bought directly from local farmers. Also, we pack the produce in cloth bags and hermetic multiuse containers, avoiding the use of plastic in order to make our operations as green as possible.

You will need to carry your daypack with all the personal items you need during the day. The rest of your luggage will be transported by us (van / porters). Porters are only permitted to carry 8 kilos for each person (including sleeping bag). As a company, Andean Adventures Peru is committed to the well-being of its porters during treks and hikes, ensuring that they are properly paid, well fed, and comfortable at our campsites. On some of our trekking and hiking routes, pack animals are used.

We supply all the camping equipment needed for groups to enjoy the great outdoors safely and comfortably: 4-person tents for every two participants; air mattresses; complete table service; dining tent, chairs and tables; kitchen tent; latrine tent; sleeping bags on request (many travelers choose to bring their own sleeping bag; however, we also offer sleeping bags for hire at an additional cost).

Our full time logistics staff continuously maintain and/or replace all our equipment. To ensure proper use of our equipment, all gear is handled by our trained field crew during treks and hikes.